The pandemic effect
The three justice system officials told the County Commission last week that they need financial assistance to cut through the pandemic-related case backlog.
According to figures provided to commissioners by the Public Defender s Office, from March 20, 2020 to March 21, 2021, the number of pending felony cases increased 55 percent. For misdemeanors it was a 304 percent boost, and juveniles cases are up 75 percent. We did everything to move cases along, Graves told commissioners. But with jury trials canceled for a year (they restarted last month) and many hearings delayed, as well, there was only so much his office could do.
Graves said his lawyers are still approximately 2,000 cases behind.